Slashdot Mirror
Man Arrested For Taking Photo of Open ATM
net_shaman writes in with word of a Seattle man who was arrested for taking a photo of an ATM being serviced. "Today I was shopping at the downtown Seattle REI. I was about to buy a Thule hitch mount bike rack. They were out of the piece that locks the bike rack into the hitch. So I was in the customer service line to special order one. It was a long line and while I was waiting, I saw two of guys (employees of Loomis, as I later learned) refilling the ATM. I walked over and took a picture with my iPhone of them and more interestingly of the open ATM. I took the picture because I'm fascinated by the insides of things that we don't normally get to see. ... That was when Officer GE Abed (#6270) spun me around and put handcuffs on me."
Go ahead then. I guarantee you're going to need a lawyer though. I hope the fun is worth it.
Except a store is private property. And if the store has a no photography policy, and the ATM company has industrial secrets or something, then they can have the picture confiscated, and the police would need to take the person in to custody to ensure no copies of the picture were created.
Canada: The US's more awesome sibling.
being a smartass to a law officer?
First, they are usually armed. Second, they have the authority to detain you (granted they will need to figure out something if they want to keep you but they can interrupt your day), and third, their job sucks for the most part.
So where do people come off with the idea that it is OK to be anything but polite with them? Frankly if your a smartass to me I won't help you. I won't even talk to you. At least I am not armed; well not as they are. The difference is that regardless of how much an asshole someone else is there is never an excuse to anything but polite in return. This is especially true with people who are doing their job.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Him
I'll call the cops.
Me
I can't stop you.
He has no reasonable obligation to talk to an ATM repair man.
If he has no reasonable obligation or desire to talk to an ATM repair man, then WHY WAS HE.
And of course you have no idea what his tone of voice was when he was giving these supposedly neutral responses.
Taunting (even subtle taunting) is the very definition of smartass.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Are you suggesting that Rush Limbaugh is not a real person? Come to think of it, you might have a point.
Designer. Typophile. Rails/Rubyist. Still Vegan. Still Straightedge. And, Baby, I'm An Asshole.
It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
Yes, the proper thing is, of course, to immediately assume most submissive, debasing prostate position, as any proper slave should, and in properly respectful, humble voice, while making sure that you keep your eyes firmly on the tips of her shoes, mumble "I am sorry Your Grace. This slave shall not speak again without permission, Your Excellence. All Hail Our Ever-lasting, Eternal, Glorious 4th Reich! May Gods' light ever shine on our Rightful Police Protectors who repel All Most Improbable Bogeymen!" .... no?
I mean that whole democracy, "rule of law" crap is sooo 20th century! "9/11 changed everything", surely! Now, finally, any mercenary ass-hole with a gun is the member of the middle strata of our new "society", who is granted all power over your life and death in the name of servicing the "right" people on the top of the social pyramid. Finally, the dirty plebs are being put back in their place! And you better know it, slave!
And even more amazing that a large part of the posters here seem to somehow blame the event on the 'douchebag' guy because he didn't bend over and say sir yes sir to the security people.
Sad.
Then Mr Shane Becker - I declare you a right plonker!
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.